<div class="menu_box">
    <div class="menu_title"><?php echo __('Catalog main categories') ?></div>
    <?php if( !empty( $categories ) ): ?>
        <?php foreach( $categories as $category ): ?>
            <div class="menu_item" style="text-indent: 10px;">
                <?php echo link_to(
                                image_tag(
                                    'arrow.png'
                                    , array(
                                        'alt' => ''
                                        , 'class' => 'image_arrow'
                                    )
                                ) . 
                                $category->getName()
                                , 'product/list?id=' . $category->getId()
                            ) ?></div>
        <?php endforeach; ?>
    <?php else: ?>
    <div class="cart_info">
        <?php echo __('No categories') ?>
    </div>
    <?php endif; ?>
</div>